One day, when the sky was as blue as a painting.
A special guest arrived at the plaza of the Genos Empire.
“Grandpa, are you really saying you’re the Tower Master?”
“Hoho, that’s right.”
The old man, stroking his snowy white beard with a kind smile, was none other than the former Tower Master. A young girl chattering beside him tilted her head.
“That’s strange. My brother said the Tower Master is supposed to be super handsome.”
“Yeah, he said he’s not just a royal of the Holy Empire but also the goddess’s wings. Someone so extraordinary that ordinary people can’t even compare.”
“But this grandpa isn’t handsome?”
Doubtful confusion spread among the children surrounding the Tower Master. One particularly young and fearless child grabbed the old man’s beard.
“Grandpa, are you really the Tower Master? Then why do you have wrinkles? Why aren’t you handsome? Is this a fake face?”
“…Hoho, are you referring to Lord Callisto? He is currently at the Tower. So, could you, ahem, kindly let go of my beard?”
Indeed, he was the former Tower Master who had been suffering from back pain, waiting for Callisto to return. As soon as Callisto arrived at the Tower, he handed over all the Tower Master’s authority and retired as if fleeing the place.
Since leaving the detestable Tower, he had been enjoying his retirement, living off the funds he had diligently saved. Wandering aimlessly, he eventually found himself in Genos.
This time, a girl clutching a stuffed rabbit asked.
“Grandpa, aren’t you the prince? Then is your name Heinz?”
A glimmer of interest appeared in the Tower Master’s eyes.
“Oh ho, do you know the Archmage Heinz?”
Archmage Heinz. The great wizard who even conquered the realm of transcendence through a contract with a dragon.
‘To think Heinz’s name is renowned even in Genos.’
A deep sense of emotion welled up in the Tower Master’s heart.
The girl nodded vigorously.
“Yes. Lord Sig said to avoid him because he spreads the idiot germ. Grandpa, is your name Heinz? Then we shouldn’t stay here! We’ll turn into idiots!”
“Let’s run!”
“But wait, that’s strange. Lord Sig said Heinz was handsome. But that his insides were foolish, so we shouldn’t be fooled by his looks! But Grandpa, you’re not handsome?”
“Grandpa, are you an idiot? Is this a fake face?”
The small hand that had been pulling at his beard now grabbed his wrinkled cheek. Faced with the innocent yet relentless barrage from the children, the Tower Master gazed wistfully into the distant mountains.
‘Heinz, just what have you been doing?’
Though Heinz himself had tarnished his own honor, it seemed the burden fell on the Tower Master to restore it, if only slightly. Speaking kindly, he said:
“I am not Heinz. I’m just the Tower Master. To be more precise, the former Tower Master. The current Tower Master is Lord Callisto.”
“Former Tower Master…?”
“It means I’m no longer the Tower Master. I’m just an ordinary former Tower Master, nothing comparable to Lord Callisto or Heinz.”
Although the title of former Tower Master was far from ordinary, the Tower Master claimed as much. In truth, compared to Callisto or Heinz, he might as well have been an ordinary person.
Thanks to his contract with Sigmund, Heinz had entered the realm of transcendence, and Callisto too had surpassed the limits of humanity.
‘He might even become stronger than Heinz.’
In terms of sheer magical power alone, he had already surpassed Heinz at the same age. Heinz, of course, would never admit it.
‘If only he’d focus on leaving an heir. An heir!’
Callisto was an upgraded version of Heinz in every way.
Not just his immense magical power but his instantaneous ability to calculate spells and his creativity in breaking conventional magical rules.
It was only right that such perfect genes should be widely passed down to future generations. Yet, there was no sign of it happening.
The Tower Master found that deeply regrettable.
‘If I bring up the topic of heirs, I might get dragged back to the Tower. I’ll keep my mouth shut.’
Though it was a shame for such superior genes to be lost, he couldn’t risk the return of his back pain after finally escaping it. To safeguard his peaceful retirement, the Tower Master decided not to meddle in anyone’s marriage.
‘If it’s urgent, Lord Callisto will handle it himself. He has plenty of time.’
Like other wizards who had reached the transcendental realm, Callisto’s time flowed slower than that of ordinary people.
If he wished, he could live several times longer than others. His youthful beauty could easily be maintained for a hundred years, so he’d surely find a partner eventually.
For now, the Tower Master had more immediate concerns.
“Well, children. Now that you understand who I am, let me tell you something. As the Tower Master, I have something to sell—no, propose to you.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll make you magical tools!”
“What? Magical tools?”
The former Tower Master spoke confidently.
“I’ll personally create the magical tools you desire, my little customers—no, my young patrons. This isn’t an opportunity that comes every day. I’ll even give you a thirty-percent discount compared to other countries!”
Retirement had brought many things to the Tower Master. Freedom from relentless back pain, a break from the Tower’s lunatics, and the liberty to fully enjoy his days.
…And, it had also brought the pressure of financial planning for old age.
He had thought he’d saved enough for retirement. But once he left the Tower, reality hit. If he wanted to visit all the places, try all the things, and eat all the foods he desired in his later years, his savings were far from sufficient. After much deliberation, the Tower Master decided to embark on a modest personal business.
That business? Custom-made magical tools!
“A bed that always wakes you up, a love potion, a pill that keeps you full for a week, a talking rabbit doll—whatever you want.”
“Wow, really?”
“But! There’s a condition.”
“What’s the condition?”
“Tell ten people in Genos that I’m here. Once you’ve done that, if there’s something you’d like me to make, come see me holding your parents’ hands! For you, I’ll give a special discount!”
“Yes! Okay, Grandpa!”
“See you next time, Grandpa Tower Master!”
The children, brimming with excitement, dashed out of the plaza. Watching their retreating figures, the Tower Master felt full even without eating. His business in Genos was off to a great start. As he hummed on his way back to the hotel to celebrate, he planned to explore some local eateries before the news spread and customers flocked in—perhaps in half a day.
Then, it happened.
“Excuse me, are you the one who makes custom magical tools?”
A cautious voice called from behind. The Tower Master turned with delight.
“That’s right! You’ve come to the perfect place!”
His first customer was a young woman wearing a hood. Her green eyes, framed by blonde hair tucked behind her ears, held a shy smile.
“I’d like to buy a gift for my husband.”
“Gifts are always wonderful! What can I make for you?”
“First, will it be confidential?”
“Confidential? Of course, it will! If the customer wishes…”
The Tower Master quickly added, just in case.
“But if it’s for anything bad, I can’t make it. I won’t even keep it secret. If things go wrong, I might get kicked out of this country.”
“It’s not for anything bad. I just want to surprise my husband.”
“Hoho. How would I know who your husband is? Don’t worry.”
“My husband is quite well-connected in Genos…”
The woman murmured quietly, glancing back over her shoulder. At her gaze, the uniformed figures standing a few steps behind her quickly retreated.
‘Guards? Then, a noblewoman?’
The Tower Master stared intently at the woman in front of him, his curiosity piqued. Nobles, as a rule, tended to be generous spenders. Perhaps this could be a lucrative opportunity.
“I’d like to buy a lock. A very sturdy one.”
…A lock?
“It would be ideal if no one could open it for at least a month—except for me, of course.”
—
A month before the Tower Master appeared in Genos.
Leticia was wrestling with a secret dilemma.
Her dilemma was this:
‘What should I prepare as a birthday gift for Dietrian?’
The gift in question was for her husband, Dietrian.
‘I’d like to give him something special rather than something material…’
Dietrian was the king of a nation. Anything he desired, he could have. Since their marriage, birthday gifts from across the continent had poured in for him.
This time, she wanted to give him something more meaningful.
A gift no one else could give—one that only she could.
“In that case, it has to be memories!”
“Memories?”
“Yes! How about taking a trip together?”
Leticia had shared her thoughts on the gift with only one person: Noel. She wanted to keep it a secret from Dietrian as much as possible. Noel’s eyes sparkled as soon as she heard Leticia’s idea.
“You’ve both been so busy ever since the babies were born. Now that things have settled down, you’ll finally have some time to spend together!”
“A trip, huh…”
As Leticia mulled it over, her face brightened.
“That’s a great idea, Noel. Thank you so much.”
There was a particular destination Leticia had always wanted to visit with Dietrian. A place where she could fulfill an old, secret dream she couldn’t share with others. She decided that this time, she would finally make that dream come true.
—
“You’re suggesting we take a trip for my birthday?”
“Yes. I want to give you a gift of memories, just for us.”
Leticia smiled warmly, wrapping her arms around Dietrian’s neck. Dietrian, smiling back, held her waist in return. Seeing his wife smile made all the fatigue from dealing with nobles all day vanish.
“A gift of memories… I like it.”
“You do?”
“What kind of trip is it?”
“That’s a secret. If you know the gift in advance, it won’t be fun.”
Leticia whispered playfully, her tone teasing. Dietrian raised an eyebrow.
“Hmm. This sounds serious. Whenever my queen wears that expression, something grand always happens.”
“Something grand?”
“Something that defies all my expectations and completely sweeps me off my feet.”
Leticia burst into a fit of laughter. Dietrian grinned and lightly nibbled on her nose.
“Leticia, don’t set your hopes too high.”
“Hmm?”
“Whatever you’ve planned, I’ll be ready for it this time. What I’m saying is, if I’m not as surprised as you hoped, don’t be disappointed.”
“Well, we’ll only know once we open the lid, won’t we?”
“No, this time, I’ll win.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“Well, fine. Let’s talk about the birthday gift on my birthday. But tonight, I think I need a different kind of gift.”
“Huh? What kind of gift?”
“The meeting went on for far too long. I barely restrained myself from dumping everything on my brother and running away.”
“Oh dear.”
“I’m not talking about comforting words. I need a real comforting gift. Now then, I’ll take that as permission.”
Dietrian suddenly lifted Leticia into his arms.
“Ahh, Dietrian!”
Leticia let out a small scream and clung to his neck. Striding across the room, Dietrian gently laid her on the bed. Loosening his cravat, he spoke with exaggerated seriousness.
“Well, Your Highness, do you feel inclined to bestow me with a gift?”
Leticia, wide-eyed as she looked up at him, burst into a bright, clear laugh. Dietrian smiled and began planting playful bites on her. In no time, the air in the room grew thick with warmth and intimacy.
—
Leticia’s words proved to be true.
Despite his mental preparation, Leticia’s gift exceeded Dietrian’s expectations by far.
Looking at the “trip preparation gift” Leticia had arranged, Dietrian ran a hand over his face in mock defeat. Leticia’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“So, let’s summarize. Your special gift is… a trip to the villa right in front of the palace?”
“It’s not right in front. It’s thirty minutes away.”
“By foot. On horseback, it’s instant.”
Indeed, the destination Leticia had chosen was none other than the hunting lodge near the royal palace—a villa they had once visited on a picnic. This was the “special trip” Leticia had planned.
“I wanted to go farther too, but our work makes it impossible. Neither of us can leave the palace for a whole month with all the duties we have. The villa is the best option for receiving documents via magical item transfer as we need them.”
“The villa isn’t the issue…”
On the table sat an object that had left him speechless.
Inside a box lined with crimson velvet lay a black lock, custom-ordered from none other than the former Tower Master.
This extraordinary lock boasted multiple functions, the most critical being its barrier feature.
No unauthorized person could even approach the villa. And even if someone with permission got close, an alarm would sound within a certain distance.
In other words, whatever they were doing inside the villa, they could handle any interruptions promptly.
“A whole month…”
Dietrian felt heat rising in his neck and covered his face with one hand.
He recalled something Leticia had once told him long ago. A dream she’d harbored since Heden—a dream of locking the two of them away for an entire month, never letting him go. At the time, he had dismissed it as one of the many endearing quirks that made Leticia lovable. To see her dream come to life now left him both flustered and… thrilled.
Exhilaratingly so.
‘Can I even keep a straight face until we reach the villa?’
More accurately, his face wasn’t the only concern. There was another issue he wasn’t sure he could conceal, though he might manage it with his clothes.
…And if all else failed, he could always delay their departure by a few hours.
“You like it, don’t you? Right?”
Unaware of Dietrian’s internal struggle, Leticia’s voice brimmed with excitement. Dietrian struggled to suppress the corners of his mouth from curling upward. If he showed too much enthusiasm, he feared he’d come across as some kind of deviant. Instead, he scooped Leticia into his arms and, feigning nonchalance, averted his gaze.
“Well, I suppose I’ll have to see for myself. Once we’re there, we’ll have to, hmm… get to work.”
“Hmm? What work?”
“Our trip won’t just be about sightseeing at the villa, will it?”
It was truly strange. Their honeymoon phase had long since passed, yet he couldn’t understand why he still adored her this much. It felt as though he were back in the days when he had secretly loved her, unable to quench his thirst for Leticia. The cascade of plans flooding his mind for the next month was proof enough.
‘It’s a blessing we’re married.’
If they were mere lovers, he wouldn’t be able to openly voice these wicked fantasies.
“Your Highness, could you share your detailed plans for what we’ll do over the next month?”
“Wow! That’s so cheesy!”
Leticia beamed with a radiant smile. Dietrian, who had been trying to keep a straight face, couldn’t help but laugh along.
—
Of course, the laughter couldn’t last forever.
After arriving at the villa, Dietrian discovered that Leticia had prepared far more than just the lock. Every single thing she had planned was devastatingly impactful. As Leticia explained, Dietrian found himself covering his nose and mouth with one hand, feeling as though he might start bleeding from the nose.
“While preparing for this trip, I read in a book that couples need events to keep things exciting. As time goes on, the excitement might fade.”
Inside the box Leticia handed him was a neatly coiled red ribbon. Dietrian felt on the verge of losing his mind. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself grounded.
He cleared his throat several times before finally managing to speak in a calm voice.
“So, because the book said that, you decided to prepare… this?”
“Yes. It was embarrassing, but… it said it was a proven method.”
Leticia’s cheeks flushed slightly as she looked away in embarrassment. Her adorable expression made him almost curse aloud.
In other words, Leticia wanted him to tie her up with that ribbon.
‘Damn it.’
Dietrian swore silently. He was grateful he had covered his mouth.
The image of Leticia, clad in nothing but the ribbon—or tied up with it—flooded his mind. His face burned as the blood rushed upward, making him dizzy. Despite this, his imagination continued relentlessly.
Leticia, her cheeks flushed, looking up at him from the bed, the crimson ribbon draped over her pale body like scattered petals. Her bound form unable to move as he indulged in her endlessly…
‘Am I… a pervert?’
Dietrian abruptly stood up.
“Dietrian?”
“Leticia, I’m sorry. I just remembered something urgent I need to handle. I’ll be back from the palace shortly.”
Dietrian quickly strode toward the door, driven by the heat pooling low in his body.
‘This place is far too dangerous.’
To only stay here for a month?
Unacceptable.
‘I’ll have to hand the throne over to my brother immediately.’
He had endured enough hardships as king. It was time to abdicate and spend his days with Leticia. On the way back, he decided, he’d retrieve the book Leticia mentioned from the library as well. Resolving himself, he reached out to open the door.
*Clunk.*
The wooden door opened just a sliver before shutting again.
‘What?’
Frowning, Dietrian pushed the door harder. That’s when he heard her voice from behind him.
“Dietrian! It’s locked, remember?”
“Oh.”
Right.
It wouldn’t open for a month.
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