Even when the atmosphere became chilly, some things needed to be said.
I stared intently at the secretary. This secretary looked an awful lot like someone I know very well. Of course, it wasn’t that his appearance was directly similar. The secretary had gray hair and gray eyes, and he was on the shorter side, too. But still… Could this uneasy feeling really be nothing?
No way. An uneasy feeling was like a siren rung by one’s ancestors. It was something you should never ignore. And…
Even while drunk, I was perfectly capable of going over everything that had happened. Having casually picked up on the clue, I curled the corners of my lips upward and asked him, “Secretary.”
“Yes.”
“But, you know.”
“Yes.”
Was it just my imagination, or did the secretary seem rather stiff?
I tilted my head slightly while looking at his stiff, serene expression. “Tell me, do you have any idea what I’m about to say?”
“Well. I’m afraid I don’t.”
I stared straight into the secretary’s gray eyes. He looked like an ordinary, colorless, odorless man you could easily spot passing by on the street. Yet, I felt like I knew exactly who he was.
“Say, are you using disguise magic?”
“I am not a suspicious person.”
“Right, you aren’t suspicious.”
Seeing his chest rise and fall strangely, he seemed quite nervous.
…Then why are you doing something that would make you nervous?
I smiled sweetly. And then I threw a straight ball right at him. “You aren’t a suspicious person, just my husband.”
“…”
“Aren’t you, Darling?”
The secretary, or rather Vientin, flinched. But you see…
“Now that you’ve been caught red-handed, are you going to try to deny it?”
I was absolutely certain.
At that moment, the secretary’s eyes trembled briefly as he looked at me, then shifted to a completely different color. The red-eyed man I knew appeared before me. At the same time, I saw his body gradually morph. His frame grew larger, his chest broadened, and his height shot up.
“When did you get a job as a secretary, Duke Vientin Kalinos?”
“…How did you know?”
“Hmm… You were way too obvious.”
At my words, he made an awkward expression.
“Then shall we go now?”
The three-month journey to the magic tower was entirely wrapped up. Which meant there was only one thing left for me to do from here on out.
“We should go home.”
“Ah.” He grinned. It was the brightest smile I had seen from Vientin so far.
“However, there is something we must do before that.”
And that was…
* * *
“Sera, would you come to the Kalinos Research Institute?”
Just as I’d planned from the beginning, I was going to scout some promising talent. Over the past week, I had looked through all the mages belonging to this magic tower. Among them were quite a few remarkably good talents.
“Y-Yes? What do you mean by…?”
“I’m officially scouting you. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to. It doesn’t matter if you continue your research here.”
I didn’t bother adding the words, ‘Because if that happens, I can just keep coming back to visit you.’ Even so, the complexions of the mages, including Sera, turned pale. But I was certain.
“Sera, your research is valuable enough to deserve considerable recognition.”
People with low self-esteem are never confident in their own abilities. However, I knew for a fact that they were exceptionally capable individuals, especially Sera.
“Sera, I really liked that incredibly unconventional idea of yours.”
“…”
“Come to the Duchy Kalinos and do research with me.”
Poaching just a few people shouldn’t be a problem, right?
“B-But, the tower master…”
“I’ll get his permission. So, will you come?”
At those words, Sera cautiously nodded. “It’s a first for me. Having someone recognize my research…”
“…”
“I was already moved that you were willing to sponsor me, but this is also the first time someone has directly asked me to come to a research institute.” Sera looked at me cautiously and spoke in a firm voice. “I want to go. No, I will, definitely, go.”
* * *
…But here’s the thing. I had come looking for the tower master with the ‘if it doesn’t work, make it work’ mindset.
“Oh my, oh my! Of course, ab-so-lute-ly! You must take her!”
I hadn’t expected this kind of reaction.
Seeing my somewhat bewildered expression, the tower master of Desert Magic Tower whispered flatteringly. “Thanks to you, I came to realize that strange things were happening in my magic tower! Madam Giselle, no, Duchess Kalinos, no, Archmage!”
“Just pick one.”
Yes! B-But there is just one condition.”
“What is it?”
“If this magic tower ever falls into disorder, please come later and whip us into shape!”
“…Hmm.” What a surprisingly good condition.
“Ah, but do you perhaps not need me? How about taking me together with Sera as a one-plus-one deal?”
…As if that would work. I didn’t need him. Still, I’ll hold back since he’s at least trying to pull himself together and improve from his incompetence. I gave the tower master a slight nod. “You have to manage the magic tower.”
“That’s true.” He looked a little dejected.
Shrugging my shoulders, I offered him a brief piece of advice. “And if possible, rather than managing the magic tower yourself, I think it would be better to bring in someone from outside.”
“Ah, yes. I’ve realized on this occasion that I’m a blockhead too. Haha. I’m planning to leave it to a competent expert!”
…What is this? Was he always this frivolous?
Just then, Duke Vientin Kalinos, my husband, who had remained silent beside me the whole time, spoke with a suspicious look on his face. “Giselle.”
“Yes.”
“…Just what on earth did you do to make even the tower master fall for you?”
“Well, I suppose he likes me too?”
“What? How dare he.”
“I’m joking.” I merely shrugged. Feigning ignorance as his face slowly flushed red at my words, I grinned. “Anyway, I have to go to our home.”
It had been a very entertaining bout of mayhem after quite some time. And since I’d obtained plenty of loot, it had been a thoroughly satisfying experience.
* * *
It was on the way back to the Kalinos Mansion. Riding in the same carriage as me, Vientin quietly spoke as he looked at the scenery passing by outside the window. “Congratulations, Giselle. You went to the Magic Tower of Desert and obtained what you wanted.”
“Yes, thank you.”
But apparently, that wasn’t the point he really wanted to make.
“Actually, I did create a tool for time travelers too. So why did you have to go all the way to the Magic Tower of Desert?”
He wasn’t wrong. Compared to Vientin’s research, Sera’s research was actually quite crude. However…
“I felt that if we combine Vientin’s research, Sera’s research, and my maa, we could truly travel through time.”
“…”
“The more research materials we have, the better. And sometimes, the greatest inventions are born from people who don’t know much.”
At those words, Vientin fell silent for a moment. “…I understand what you’re saying well enough.” Then he spoke quietly. “Congratulations, Giselle. Now you will be able to meet your father. And your mother as well.”
Everyone, including Vientin, must have assumed that. That the reason I was obsessed with time travel and had been researching it was because of Count Sehera. That it was… to meet him.
Well, it was true at first that I wanted to meet Count Sehera. But there was something I had been thinking about lately while staying by Vientin’s side and supporting him. That I’m happier seeing him happy than when I’m pursuing my own happiness. I’m happy when I’m happy, but I felt happiest when he smiled with genuine joy. Therefore, the person current myself would go back in time to meet first wouldn’t be Count Sehera.
I lightly cleared my throat and called his name. “…Vientin.”
“Yes, Giselle.”
He naturally believed that I wanted to meet Count Sehera. But that wasn’t actually the case.
“When we travel through time, there’s someone I want to meet first. Before Count Sehera, I mean, before my dad…”
“Then…?”
He, too, had someone from the past who had died and vanished.
“It’s your older brother. Let’s go meet him together.”
I want him to meet his family again too. So that he can feel that emotion, the feeling of being able to meet someone precious once more. Carrying such a wish, I smiled at him gently.
[End of Special Story 3.]
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