WSNTM 39

WSNTM

Posted by Tommy Vercetti, Released on January 20, 2026

39. I Thought You Were a Little Cute

“I was consulting with my mentor about some concerns.”

Arpeggio bristled at Riley’s words.

“Who’s your mentor? He just gave you a little guidance.”

“Why are you raising your voice? You’ll startle her.”

Gibnen approached Riley and gently wrapped his arms around her.

“What kind of concerns could you have? If you have something on your mind, you can tell me.”

“You look busy.”

“Even if I’m busy, is it more important than your worries?”

“Well… wouldn’t the important affairs at the Mage Tower matter more than my concerns?”

“To me, you’re more important.”

Hey, don’t both of you act like this in my precious workshop. Think this is your dating spot?

Arpeggio’s words were met with agreement from Gibnen as he took Riley’s hand and pulled her along.

“Let’s go. To my office.”

·
·
·

Sak recalled the conversation from just an hour ago.

If it bothered you so much, why didn’t you just return to school?
Even if I returned, there’s no lecture I can attend with others. My course is for fourth-years.
The implication that you were even considering returning… that’s shocking.
I’m anxious.
You’re not an uncontrollable little child, Master.
In society, she’s no different from a child left at the shore. Have you forgotten the abuse she suffered from the baron?
She hasn’t been completely cut off from society.
What’s the difference? She couldn’t attend the academy others go to, stayed home, and all contact outside her caretakers was blocked. She wasn’t debuted into society either.
Still, she’s old enough to manage herself.
Be quiet.

‘So worried, yet he brought her here anyway.’

“Sac, am I in the way?”

At Riley’s question, Sac smiled brightly and shook his head.

“Of course not. I’m glad you’re here, Miss.”

“Why?”

“Well… it’s not often you get to serve such a compliant superior, right? Don’t worry about me—take care of your work.”

Sac quietly stood, served Riley some tea and cake, and then disappeared again.

“How was today?”

Riley answered, her voice a little excited, as if waiting for Gibnen to ask.

“It was good. I even made a friend.”

“Already?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s impressive.”

“I was really worried. I’m so shy… not used to interacting with people. I was nervous, but it worked out.”

“Bring her home next time.”

“Really?”

“Of course. She’s my wife’s friend—I should treat her well.”

Riley nodded excitedly.

“What kind of concerns did you discuss with Arpeggio?”

“Huh? It’s nothing much…”

“Nothing much? Then why couldn’t you tell me?”

Riley hesitated for a moment, then told him. She explained how she had secured a seat but was abruptly forced out, and how she couldn’t understand anything in a lecture because it was too difficult.

“Ah, is it bad to eat alone at a restaurant?”

“Why would that be bad?”

“Because it looks bad to take a two-person table all by yourself when it’s crowded?”

“That’s nonsense. Whoever arrives first gets the seat—it doesn’t matter how many people there are.”

“Right? I wasn’t imagining things?”

“Who’s going to complain?”

“There was a little incident, but it got resolved. A man helped me.”

“…A man?”

“He was handsome. Not as much as you, but still.”

Gibnen’s lips curled slightly.

“A man?”

“Yeah.”

“And he’s handsome?”

“Yeah.”

Gibnen leaned on his chin and stared at Riley.

“That’s troublesome.”

“What is?”

“A handsome man involved from day one.”

“I don’t even know his name. He helped me, so I bought him lunch.”

“You ate together?”

“It happened while I was eating. I just paid because I was grateful.”

“Classic pickup line material.”

“No way. He showed no signs like that. Handsome, yes—but his tone… so annoying. Just like a mentor.”

“Arpeggio’s tone is annoying, yes.”

“Just the tone. He’s still a good person.”

“When did he even become your mentor?”

“He taught me. I want to keep learning if possible. The Academy curriculum is too difficult to study alone.”

Gibnen snorted in disbelief.

“There’s a better teacher right in front of you, and you still stick to him?”

“Where?”

“Here.”

“You?”

“Yes.”

“But you’re the Mage Tower lord.”

“Being a Mage Tower lord doesn’t mean I can’t have a student.”

“That’s true, but you don’t have time to teach me, right?”

Gibnen groaned.

“I still don’t want him as your mentor.”

“Why not?”

“I just don’t want any other man around you.”

Riley blinked, dumbfounded, then laughed in understanding.

“It’s okay. I only have you.”

“…”

“I keep my promises. I won’t forget the promises I made with you. I’m going to marry you, so I can’t look at any other man.”

“But you said you’d let me go if I found someone I loved or didn’t want to be married anymore.”

“True. That’s fair.”

“But there’s no rule saying you can’t love someone else. Especially if they’re handsome. Both of them.”

“Both?”

“Arpeggio and that unnamed man.”

“Mentor is handsome? He looks like a fluffy Sapsal dog.”

“Maybe now.”

Gibnen’s face turned serious.

“You don’t realize how dangerous handsome men are—they always live up to their looks. Like me.”

“Okay, I’ll be careful. But I don’t know him, and I probably won’t meet him again.”

“Not just him—don’t associate with any men. They’re all beasts.”

“You too?”

“…”

“Well, you’re an exception.”

Gibnen touched his forehead—a habit when annoyed—while Riley remained blissfully innocent. He didn’t like how her face seemed to invite anyone to come and love her.

Honestly, if someone offered candy, she’d probably follow them. Not in a foolish way, just… naive enough to not distinguish ill intentions.

“Don’t let men even approach. What if you fall for one?”

“…Me?”

“No, him.”

When Riley gave a blank look, Gibnen warned her seriously:

“Humans are visual creatures. They prioritize what looks good—dresses, jewels, handsome men, beautiful women, puppies, kittens—all things visually pleasing.”

“That’s true, but how does that apply to me? I’m not like jewelry, dresses, or cute animals.”

“Who’s talking nonsense?”

“….”

“You’re pretty. Don’t you realize it?”

“No one’s ever told me that. I’ve never thought so. I’m… extremely ordinary.”

“Ordinary is dead.”

Gibnen laughed, dumbfounded.

Though they couldn’t fully understand each other, Riley nodded firmly to herself:

“No man will get close to me anyway, but I won’t let them near.”

“If some weirdo bothers you, tell me. I’ll handle it personally.”

Riley nodded and changed the subject.

“I heard there’s a genius at our school. Someone who broke the mana-measuring device. They say he’s your student?”

“…My student?”

“Yeah, you brought him yourself. Amazing that someone like that attends the same Academy as me. I can’t even follow the lectures, but he probably finds them easy. I have to work hard or I’ll be last. Can I even keep up?”

The prodigy who destroyed the mana-measuring device was struggling with lectures, which Gibnen found amusing. He quietly covered his face to hide his laughter.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Just… I thought it was a little cute.”

“Cute?”

“You.”

“What’s cute?”

Riley was flustered. Gibnen laughed until tears came, then finally calmed down, taking a deep breath.

“Ah, this is fun. So much fun I could die.”

“?”

“Anyway, do your best. And forget the student thing—it’s a rumor. I don’t have any students.”

“Really? I would’ve been upset if you had a student and didn’t tell me.”

“Just do your best. Who knows? You might even be a prodigy yourself.”

Riley shook her head firmly.

“No way. I might not even graduate… But learning is fun. I’ll do my best. You’re paying all this tuition… I can’t be lazy.”

Gibnen restrained his laughter—tuition is nothing to him—but Riley’s cuteness kept him entertained.

She seemed to grow cuter the more he saw her. Perhaps the cutest being in the world, he thought, fully immersed in her charm.

“Hi, Riley. I saved you a seat.”

She saw Hilla almost daily, since their lectures overlapped often. For lectures Hilla didn’t attend, Riley sat alone; otherwise, Hilla saved her a spot.

Riley felt lucky to have Hilla. She was cute, cheerful, lively, and just watching her made Riley happy and excited.

“I had a meeting yesterday.”

Riley tilted her head.

“A meeting?”

“Yeah. My mother introduced me to a man through an acquaintance. He’s from Asland, studying at Eldras Academy.”

“Eldras? That’s Horizon’s rival Mage Tower, right?”

“Yeah, their academy is pretty good. Not as good as Horizon, though.”

“So, did you like him?”

Hilla shook her head angrily.

“No! He had a subtly condescending tone. He criticized me for being a latecomer to the Academy and failing three exams while he passed on the first try. He said Eldras was better than Horizon. Ridiculous!”

“I see.”

“That’s why I hate meetings like that. Our family is a rural baronial house, so they try to look down on me! Though our family is well-regarded locally!”

“And his family?”

“Also a baronial house from Asland. But Asland’s much more developed than Azur, where I live. His family isn’t originally noble—they were merchants. They bribed the Brodian count to buy a title. They have a superiority complex and subtly insulted my poor family, claiming their rich family is better than poor nobles. Why should I waste time meeting someone like that?”

Hilla vented, then muttered gloomily:

“I hate intentional meetings. Arranged marriages between similar families… what’s the point for lower nobles like us? It only benefits the top nobles. For families like ours, it means nothing unless we marry up. Otherwise, it’s all the same.”

“So the marriage proposal was canceled?”

“Yeah. I’d rather give up my family name than marry that jerk.”

“Lucky.”

“What’s lucky?”

“That you had the choice to refuse a proposal.”

“And you? Are you married?”

“…No.”

Almost sold off to an old man. Luckily, she eventually became engaged to a young, promising Mage Tower lord.

“I understand your feelings. I almost married someone older than my father.”

“What? Really? That’s insane! Did you even get engaged to that old man?”

“No, fortunately, it was canceled.”

“That’s great! I don’t want a marriage based on money or status. I want to love and be loved by someone I care about. That’s what matters, not wealth or rank.”

Riley didn’t answer. She had often imagined being happy with someone she loved, but the gap between reality and her ideals was stark.

“My happiness matters more than love.”

“Huh?”

“Living comfortably and well is more important to me.”

“You don’t want to meet someone and be loved?”

“I do. I want to love and be loved. But I gave up.”

“Why? We’re still young. Why give up?”

“Because it wouldn’t work.”

“Without even trying?”

Riley thought of Gibnen. She might love him, but could never be loved back. She knew how rare mutual love truly is.

“Because hoping only brings pain?”

“….”