The Drinking Sage 35

“That can’t be….”

The Tower Master’s mouth falls wide open.

She must be greatly surprised at the words that Adela would be my future wife.

In truth, I was also very surprised.

Since I couldn’t have imagined that I would say such words in front of the Tower Master, Adela’s mother.

‘Have I changed that much?’

It was truly refreshing that I, who was under the curse of emotionlessness, moved so emotionally.

“…”

Perhaps she calmed her surprised heart. The Tower Master closed her mouth.

Silence.

The Tower Master didn’t say anything. Naturally, it’s a topic difficult to easily speak about.

Her gaze slightly shifts toward my side.

“Heheh, heheheh….”

There was Adela, wearing a beaming, happy smile.

‘I’m glad I spoke boldly.’

It seems she was greatly pleased that I said not just girlfriend but future wife.

Adela pressed her linked arm more closely and rubbed her cheek against me.

The soft texture felt from the chest pressed close was truly embarrassing. Does she not mind that her own mother is watching in front?

The Tower Master, who had been silently observing her, finally opened her mouth.

“Adela- no, Sage.”

“Yes, Tower Master.”

Adela also answered while trying to lower the corners of her mouth. However, her trembling lips were still screaming to rise up.

The Tower Master slightly furrowed her brow and threw a question.

“…Is this a matter formally agreed upon with the imperial family?”

“Ugh.”

At those words, Adela shifted her gaze to the side. It meant she didn’t have a proper answer.

‘That’s understandable.’

Both her boyfriend declaration and my wife declaration are ultimately just declarations by the parties involved.

Considering our actual positions. Especially considering my position as a royal, this isn’t an issue that ends with the parties saying ‘we’re going to get married.’

‘Naturally, there should be dialogue between the tower and the empire.’

Skipping all that and suddenly bringing up the story to the Tower Master, her mother. It’s inevitable that the Tower Master would respond this way.

“Ahem!”

Adela cleared her throat once and answered.

“Although there hasn’t been a formal discussion with the imperial family yet. Since the Prince and I already clearly understand each other’s hearts, I believe there won’t be any problems.”

‘When did I ever say that?’

The Sage advanced the order considerably by directly confessing to me. And I’m in a position of matching and responding to that.

Suddenly, the claim that Adela and I are sharing hearts seemed absurd.

“I see. My child, with a prince….”

Of course, looking at the Tower Master’s pupils, which seem to be accelerating thought wildly. In the end, I close my mouth without saying anything.

‘She’ll handle it herself.’

Since Adela caused all of this. It makes sense for her to take it back.

“Hmm. Alright.”

The Tower Master nodded once and said.

“Then, naturally, I need to know the person who will be the husband of Adela, who is both my successor and daughter.”

Hearing those words, I inwardly sighed.

‘It feels like I came just to show my face.’

Is this how a boyfriend feels when being introduced to his girlfriend’s parents?

It’s natural since that was the original intention for bringing me here.

“Anyway, the conversation seems to have derailed a bit, so I’ll bring it back to the original topic.”

The Tower Master’s voice, without noticeable rise or fall, echoes in the audience chamber. It seems she has regained her composure.

“What do you think is the reason I called renowned figures from various circles this time, Sage?”

The term used to call her daughter was still rigid.

Almost never calling her Adela with familiarity. Only using that title ‘Sage’ which maintains distance.

Adela, too, maintained an attitude of never closing the distance.

“The Tower Master said it was to hold a party, but. I think that’s just a disguise to deceive public attention.”

“Then, can you guess what the real purpose is?”

“The Tower Master’s research.”

There was no hesitation in Adela’s answer.

The answer that came without delay is similar to the topic she and I were discussing just a moment ago.

“I think it’s research conducted secretly without revealing it to other mages.”

“That’s accurate. I’m glad your alias hasn’t rusted even after going to the Academy.”

The Tower Master smiles faintly at Adela’s words. There was a slight satisfaction in her tone.

She tapped the armrest of her chair with a tok, tok sound. Thinking about a topic not yet revealed to others, but one she would share a bit with us.

“My research has yielded some results. However, it still hasn’t reached what I desire.”

“Then what will you do?”

“So, this time I gathered skilled individuals. I want to find someone among them who can help with my research.”

At those words, my head nodded. I understood the Tower Master’s current course of action.

‘So that was it.’

The reason for gathering influential people is because they need to have the skills to help the Tower Master’s research.

And the reason for saying she would hold a party is that she didn’t want the fact that such skilled people helped to be known. Since the Tower Master’s research was private.

Anyway.

At the point of understanding that fact, my mouth immediately opened.

“According to your words.”

“?”

The Tower Master’s head tilts slightly at my suddenly uttered words.

She would think there was no room for me to interject in the conversation until now.

However.

-Your Highness’s secret. She would like it if you tell her that.

Before entering the audience chamber.

Recalling the conversation I had with Adela, a twist awaits.

‘It’s time to make a bold decision.’

Will I not reveal the secret here and hurt Adela’s feelings?

Or will I reveal the secret and capture Adela’s heart?

It’s as clear as day.

‘Even if she hadn’t placed the geas.’

At the point where I was given the imperial order to graduate from the Academy’s special class, the answer is decided.

“I believe I can be of help to the Tower Master’s research.”

“…In what way can you help?”

“I heard the Tower Master desires the power to interfere with mana.”

At those words, her eyes once again glance to the side.

There is Adela, avoiding the Tower Master’s gaze. That alone is enough to infer that it was Adela who told me.

In any case, my mouth concluded with final words.

“I can do it. More certainly than the Sage, more certainly than anyone in this world.”

Silence.

Different from the silence earlier, it’s a stillness where words can’t be easily uttered.

“…”

The Tower Master heard my statement and seemed to be gauging my intentions for a moment. Emotions swirl in the dark pupils that gaze at me without saying a word.

Of course, my Dragon Eyes wouldn’t fail to recognize that.

Surprise at the sudden statement. Suspicion about whether I’m bluffing. And perhaps, expectation for a helper who might fulfill her own wishes.

In the end, the latter emotion won. The Tower Master’s mouth repeatedly opened and closed, and finally voiced.

“…Is it true?”

This, too, is similar to the question just before.

I silently nodded. Seeing that, the Tower Master immediately rose to her feet.

Tak, tak- Footsteps echo in the audience chamber. She moved without hesitation and.

Coming right up to my face, she extended her hand.

“Take it.”

The tone is quite forceful.

No matter how much of a Tower Master she was, it wasn’t a posture to take toward a royal.

But it must be serious and desperate in her own way. I decided to be generous and understand.

My hand is slightly extended.

The hand that grabbed it with a grasp was unexpectedly soft, belying the years.

A white and warm hand envelopes my hand and.

“Prove it.”

She left a direct statement to me.

“Prove what?”

“Anything is fine. Interfere with the mana flowing through my veins.”

“It’s a dangerous thing.”

My mouth naturally dissuaded her.

“No matter how much one doesn’t intend harm, carelessly interfering with another’s mana is not good behavior.”

“I know that. To that extent.”

“…”

“I’m saying I don’t care. Now, hurry.”

And she grips my hand even more strongly.

Whew- A sigh escaped from my mouth.

‘Like mother, like daughter.’

It seems blood doesn’t lie. This appearance of relentlessly advancing toward what she wants was exactly that.

‘What should I do?’

My eyebrows narrow a bit. As I said earlier, I have no intention of harming the Tower Master and.

‘I need to prove that I can aid her.’

Then, ultimately, what does the Tower Master desire? I must recall that again.

‘Happiness.’

If the Tower Master is someone who focuses on the emotion of happiness.

I, too, decided to try placing my hand on that.

“…”

I close my eyes and focus on mana.

I feel the mana flowing through her hand that I’m holding. The mana that extends from the hand, passes through the arm, and enters the heart.

Why did it seem so tired?

Putting aside all speculation or contemplation about that.

I used mana in a way I hadn’t done until now.

‘Emotion.’

Just as I read the colors of mana with the Dragon Eyes to see emotions.

I directly interfere with another’s mana to draw out emotions.

I put strength in the intertwined hands. I immediately control the mana inside the other person’s body using my power.

Like dipping a brush in paint on a canvas. Once, twice, three times…

At that moment.

“Ha!”

The Tower Master let out a big exclamation.

Her wide-open eyes were representing her emotions.

Astonishment.

In the pupils that held only one emotion, I see my face. It’s quite a satisfied expression.

‘I succeeded.’

It was truly awkward as it was a usage I hadn’t tried until now. But the result was successful.

Happiness.

I infused the emotion of ‘happiness’ into the Tower Master’s body. The very subject she had been fixated on.

“…ha….”

The Tower Master releases her held hand and takes a few steps back.

Still seeming dazed. From her slightly parted lips, excited breath leaks out.

“No way, really….”

There’s disbelief in the fragmentary words that come out, but.

The clear fact is that I proved I can interfere with another’s mana, so.

In the end, the statement that would come from the Tower Master’s mouth is predetermined.

“It was true.”

“Yes.”

To those words, I answered with a bitter smile.

“That’s right. I have the power to interfere with others’ mana….”

“Your Highness is indeed the person who will be my daughter’s husband.”

“Pardon?”

I foolishly questioned the unexpectedly irrelevant statement that came out.

‘Is she suddenly changing the topic here?’

Like a coachman who has been driving a carriage for decades.

The form of abruptly twisting the conversation was quite fierce.

She continued speaking without paying the slightest attention to my reaction.

“Let’s get engaged right away. I’ll give a message to the imperial family. Perhaps when would be good to hold the ceremony….”

The Tower Master, speaking excitedly like that.

It was as if she had already gone to another world.

“…”

I could only close my mouth.

‘Like mother, like daughter.’

Truly, it seems blood cannot be deceived.